The history of practicePRO

In 1997 work began on a risk management program to complement LawPRO's success at claims management. We recognized that lawyers needed help adapting to changes in the world around them and adopting new ways of doing business. LAWPRO's actuarial data was examined to see how claims were affected by such factors as years in practice, geography, area of law, and firm size. To this mix of data was added the findings of Professor Neil Gold (former dean of law at the University of Windsor) whose research concluded that the underlying causes of claims include failure of the lawyer-client relationship, poor communication, poor file management, and self interest among others.

It was determined that there would be four founding pillars of the new practicePRO program:

Information: practicePRO aims to bring lawyers the latest information on claims and claims prevention. We work to get this knowledge in the hands of lawyers through a variety of means, such as this website, LAWPRO magazine, and lending library.

Practice Aids: having made lawyers aware of the causes of claims, we've created tools and resources to help them address these issues. Our "managing" series of booklets, precedent letters, checklists, and reading lists on technology and e-discovery put practical practice management tools in the hands of lawyers.

Education: practicePRO works closely with CLE organizers at the CBA, OBA, Law Society and the local law associations to get our practice and risk management message out to as wide and varied an audience as possible. We also get out on the road to speak to groups of lawyers at both large conferences and small gatherings at individual law firms.

Wellness & Balance: our research has shown that lawyers that are overly stressed and unhealthy are highly likely to make mistakes resulting in claims. We work hand in hand with OLAP (Ontario Lawyers' Assistance Program) to make lawyers aware of the resources available to them to combat stress and addition and to foster healthier lifestyles and practice habits.

In 1998 the practicePRO program was formally launched, and year by year added new resources and materials to the lawyer's claims prevention arsenal: the Online Coaching Centre in 1999, the Special Reports on Litigation and Fraud in 2000 and 2001, the CLE premium credit in 2002, Limitations Act charts in 2004, the Lending Library in 2007 plus eight "managing" booklets and nearly twenty issues of LAWPRO Magazine.

For a more indepth look at the history of practicePRO, plus a some thoughts on where the program will go in the next ten years, please see the following articles from the Summer 2008 issues of LAWPRO Magazine:

A look back
Malcolm Heins and Karen Bell talk about the origins of LAWPRO's risk and practice management program.
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The next 10 years
What are the principle lessons of practicePRO and what does the future hold in store? An interview with Dan Pinnington.
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